Kelly had felt off colour for some time now, and was trying to shake a virus, picked up no doubt after the stress of the corruption inquiry. Her fears that she’d be shut off from the investigation were unfounded. She’d been regularly updated once her team had been indisputably cleared. USBs recovered from Ormond’s property revealed that remnants of Tombday’s wealth still languished in the Isle of Man, and he had been siphoning off chunks of it. Video footage had also been seized recording boys being abused by men associated with the racket. Identification would likely never be made, given that the material appeared to be twenty years old. Despite a thorough investigation into Ormond’s murder, the case remained unsolved, to the desperate anguish of his family.

Sharon walked around with a bottle of sherry and topped up glasses, humming Christmas songs to herself and blowing the odd party trumpet, popped out of crackers bought at the market in Penrith. Occasionally she’d sneak up behind whoever held the baby and peer around, surprising him with a silly face.

Kelly went back into the kitchen with Ted and counted out the cutlery. Johnny was showing Jackson how to make lump-free gravy: a speciality of his, and a skill that would come in handy when the new Hub opened in early Spring.

The Ella Watson and Keira Bradley Foundation was to launch on the site of the old barricade on the Beacon Estate, and would welcome the whole community. It had received funding to offer educational and vocational courses, and would have a permanent member of staff giving advice on social and financial matters; but most importantly of all, it would be somewhere for people to go who felt disconnected from their community. The launch would celebrate the knife amnesty organised by Jackson, which had yielded one hundred and twenty-three weapons in a week. Hot and cold food would be available, as well as sports and games. The foundation would be run by Sharon Bradley and Jackson Akers, with Thomas Watson in charge of the finances.

Thomas’s two hundred thousand pounds was funding the building, but he was also paying for a brand-new music suite with a recording studio after finding out about Jackson’s talent. Until it was ready, Thomas had arranged for Jackson to record his music in a suite in Kendal, and his first track was available on YouTube and currently climbing the charts. His artist name was Gunz. KSI’s agent had expressed an interest in working with him. The Hub was to be officially opened by two Coronation Street stars.

Kelly glanced around her home and noticed that Jordan had gone out onto the terrace. She slipped out to join him. The food was almost ready.

‘Hey. You OK?’ she asked.

He nodded. ‘I’m just thinking about Mum.’ He was staring at the hills.

‘She liked to run up there?’